By Marion Bartholomew
August 18, 2024 dawned in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey looking like it would be a fine day for sailing in Sandy Hook Bay, a body of water with a spectacular view of New York City to the north. While Sandy Hook Bay remains somewhat obscure to most, it does have an imprimatur as the site of thirteen America’s Cup matches from 1870 to 1920.
Leslie Kotzas’ Osprey represented Keyport Yacht Club in the Spinnaker division. © Ivy Dash Photography
When the 20th Ms. Race, a pursuit race for all-women crews sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club (AHYC) started at 2:00 pm that day in August, no one was thinking about the big wooden boats that raced there so long ago. Many of us, however, were thinking about the twenty-year history of the Ms. Race and what it means to us.
The crew of Ann Meyer’s Magic (Raritan Yacht Club/Storm Trysail Club) celebrates their Spinnaker division victory. © Ivy Dash Photography
The Commodore of the AHYC at the time of the first race in 2005, LuAnn Rathemacher, wanted to get women out on the water to learn to race. She teamed up with Race Committee Chair Art Olson to give the first Ms. Race its sea legs. Four boats signed up, all women crew per the rules of this new race, and LuAnn reported that “The enthusiasm for this event has been pretty remarkable.” The conditions became challenging with gusts over 20 knots, but all four boats finished, some novice crew members a bit shaken but happy, gaining increasing pride in their accomplishment. The difficult race was a success for all participants. There was no question that the Ms. Race would be held in 2006 and onward. No one was injured, no boat was damaged, no boat sank. And remarkably, just about everyone involved with the race felt it had accomplished its goal of giving women the confidence to sail on their own. In 2007, Jodi Dash, a crew member on LuAnn’s boat, suggested the race become a fundraising event for 180 Turning Lives Around, a New Jersey shelter for victims of domestic violence. This dramatically changed the impetus of the race and added a new, compelling reason to race: women racing for women. That year, $1,500 was raised through the efforts and heartfelt dedication of participants. It felt good to help this purposeful organization.
Competing in the 8-boat Non-Spinnaker division, Paula Del Coro’s Vici (AHYC) crosses the finish line. © Ivy Dash Photography
After the fundraising success in 2007, we saw that we had an exciting and worthy event that gave us the additional satisfaction of helping families through 180 and helping women build self-confidence on the water, which can translate to more self- confidence in general.
Captain Nitzan Levy (Liberty Yacht Club) and her team won the Best Dressed Crew award. © Ivy Dash Photography
Developing racing skills for the Ms. Race has gifted the participants in immeasurable and unanticipated ways. Event Co-chair Diane Kropfl reports that, “Running the Ms. Race has taught me the immense value of community and teamwork, as sailors from diverse backgrounds come together to support a common cause. It has also shown me the impact of perseverance and passion, both on the water and in championing the mission of 180 Turning Lives Around.”
20 Years On Course! © Ivy Dash Photography
In the twenty years the Ms. Race has gotten women on the water, more women on more boats have participated – thirteen boats in 2024. The Ms. Race committee includes a few women who were in the first race in 2005 along with more recent racers, and the personal rewards of making this race run deep. Co-chair Emily Smith, a participant in 2005, enthused, “Sailing and racing continue to surprise me with my own personal growth, but working toward our fundraising and community goals for 180 has encouraged me to volunteer for 180 which has added many dimensions to the Ms. Race experience.”
We’ve learned how to put on a good race, we’ve gotten women to race sailboats safely, we’ve raised more money every year for 180 – $35,000 in 2024 – and, as expressed by Diane and Emily above, we’ve probably received so much more from the Ms. Race than we could have imagined. Yes, it’s personal, not just business. ■
